Students are classified as either a resident or a non-resident of Colorado for tuition purposes at the time of admission, based on the information they provide on the admissions application. Colorado Tuition Classification is governed by State Law (Title 23, Article 7, of the Colorado Revised Statutes of 1973, as amended) and by judicial decisions that apply to all public institutions of higher education in Colorado and is subject to change at any time. Residency decisions do not transfer between Colorado colleges. Morgan Community College must apply the rules set forth in the residency statutes and is not free to make exceptions to the rules except as specifically permitted by law.
Residency-General Qualifications
- Resident status requires domicile in Colorado for one year immediately prior to the first day of class. Domicile is defined as a true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation. Domicile is a legal characteristic that everyone has, and students can have only one domicile at any one time. A student's domicile is a legal, primary residence.
- During the one-year domicile period, the student should comply with all legal obligations of a Colorado resident such as demonstrating proof of voter registration, Colorado income tax payment, Colorado motor vehicle registration, Colorado issued driver's license or ID card, and/or proof of employment.
- Students under the age of 23 (un-emancipated minors) may be eligible for in-state tuition if a parent or court-appointed legal guardian has been domiciled and complied with legal obligations in Colorado for one year.
- Students whose parents are not domiciled in Colorado may also qualify to begin the one-year domiciliary period if the student is either: at least 23 years old, or married, or emancipated. Emancipation requires that the student's parents do not provide financial support of any nature or purpose. Parental support includes funds previously set aside for current support even if those funds are in the student's name. Parents may provide reasonable incidental gifts but may not provide significant funds to be considered emancipated. A student who is claimed as a dependent on parent taxes is not emancipated. Contact the Director of Admissions or Director of Regional Community Outreach for eligibility.
- There are several amendments to the Tuition Classification Law for certain populations of students including Olympic Athletes, American Indian Tribes, Military Personnel, Inmates, recent Colorado High School graduates and GED recipients, etc. Contact the MCC Director of Admissions or the Director of Regional Community Outreach to determine who may be in an eligible population.
Initial Classification
The initial tuition classification is auto determined via the admissions application process for the semester the student is admitted. The classification is based on the information provided on the application for admission. Failure to answer all questions could lead to a non-resident classification. After the student's status is determined, it remains unchanged in the absence of further action and evidence to the contrary.
Petition for Residency/In-State Tuition Classification
If you have been classified as a non-resident (for college tuition purposes) and believe you qualify for in-state/resident tuition, you may appeal your classification. Download and complete a "Petition for In-State Tuition Classification" or a "Correction to Application for Tuition Classification form." Which can be found on the MCC website.
Return the form along with the documentation it requests to the MCC Director of Admissions or the Director of Regional Community Outreach by the census/drop date for the semester in which you are seeking a tuition classification change. Any changes in tuition classification must be submitted to the Director of Admissions or the Director of Regional Community Outreach prior to the drop date for current semester. Non-residents who enroll in classes while their residency classification is being reviewed must pay the non-resident rates to hold a place in classes. If residency classification is changed, the college will refund the difference for the current semester as long as changes in tuition classification are submitted to the Director of Admissions or the Director of Regional Community Outreach prior to the drop date for the semester.